Continue is an open-source IDE extension available for both VS Code and JetBrains IDEs. It adds AI-powered autocomplete and chat to the editor with full model flexibility: developers configure which LLM provider and model to use, including local models via Ollama. Released under the Apache 2.0 license, it is the primary open-source alternative to GitHub Copilot for in-editor AI assistance.
Key capabilities
Tab autocomplete — Continue adds inline code completions as the developer types. Unlike GitHub Copilot, the underlying model is configurable: any Ollama model, Claude, GPT-4o, Gemini, or a custom API endpoint can provide completions.
Chat with codebase context — The side-panel chat understands the open file, selected code, and the broader repository. Developers use @file, @folder, and @codebase context providers to feed precise context into the conversation.
Edit mode — Highlight a code block, describe the desired change, and Continue applies the edit inline with a diff view for approval. This is a focused single-block edit, not a full multi-file agentic loop.
JetBrains support — Continue supports IntelliJ IDEA, PyCharm, WebStorm, and other JetBrains IDEs — coverage that most competing open-source tools lack.
Local model support — Full Ollama integration means teams with data-residency requirements can run Continue entirely on-premises with no API calls leaving the network.
Autonomy level
Level 2 (assisted): Continue proposes completions and edits; the developer accepts or rejects each suggestion. It does not run shell commands or manage multi-step tasks autonomously.
Strengths
- Apache 2.0 license — open source, auditable, self-hostable
- Only major open-source tool to support both VS Code and JetBrains
- Full model flexibility including local Ollama models
- Active community with a growing library of context providers and slash commands
Limitations
- Not a full coding agent; no shell command execution or autonomous multi-step tasks
- Configuration (choosing a model, setting up Ollama) adds setup friction vs. Copilot
- Autocomplete quality varies more across model choices than proprietary alternatives